The Ministry of Urban Development has approved an investment of Rs 4,404 cr in augmenting water supply, sewerage networks, drainage, urban transport and public and green spaces in urban areas in eight states and UTs under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for the current financial year. An inter-ministerial Apex Committee chaired by Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(Urban Development) has approved the State Level Annual Action Plans (SAAP) of these eight states/UTs.
Investments approved were; Karnataka – Rs.1,625 cr, Andhra Pradesh-Rs 877 cr, Bihar-Rs 775 cr, Telangana-Rs 555 cr, Haryana-Rs 525 cr, Nagaland-Rs 40 cr, Dadra, Nagar & Haveli-Rs 3.70 cr and Andaman & Nicobar Islands-Rs 3.18 cr.
The total central assistance to be provided to these eight states and UTs is Rs 2,085 cr and the details are: Karnataka-Rs 772 cr, Bihar-Rs 388 cr, Andhra Pradesh-Rs 352 cr, Telangana-Rs 277 cr, Nagaland-Rs 36 cr besides the total project to be borne by the central government for the two union territories.
Under AMRUT, committed total central assistance of Rs 50,000 cr for the five year mission period is allocated among the states/UTs based on urban population and number of statutory urban local bodies in each state/UT and SAAP are accordingly formulated by states/UTs. Remainder of the project cost is to be born states, UTs and ULBs.
Earlier during the current financial year i.e 2016-17, the Ministry of Urban Development approved total investments of Rs 19,213 cr under Atal Mission for 20 states/UTs taking the total investments approved to Rs 23,627 cr with a central assistance commitment of Rs 8,655 cr.
Under Atal Mission which was launched in June last year, the total investment approved in basic infrastructure in urban areas in 500 mission cities stands at Rs 44,401 cr with total central assistance commitment of Rs 20,634 cr.
The states/UTs have proposed an investment of Rs 1,146 cr in improving drainage networks in urban areas. As against the investment approved of Rs 281 cr in this regard during 2015-16, the Ministry of Urban Development has so far approved and investment of Rs 759 cr so far during the current financial year.
During the Apex Committee meeting, Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(UD) informed the states/UTs that annual action plans for the remaining three years of Atal Mission will be considered and approved in one go in the last quarter of this financial year to enable states/UTs for proper planning and execution of the project to realise the mission’s goals as envisaged by the last year of the mission i.e 2019-20.
Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), ensuring water supply connections to all the urban households besides water supply @135 liters per capita per day is accorded top priority followed by improving sewerage networks, storm water drains and urban transport with focus on non-motorised transport. Every mission city is required to provide/ develop at least one park each year.
Under AMRUT, central assistance is provided to the tune of 50 per cent of project cost if the population of mission cities is less than 10 lakhs each and one third of project cost if the population is more than 10 lakhs each, 90 per cent of the project cost for hilly and North-Eastern States and total project cost for UTs.
